Glad You Asked: What is a Super Blood Blue Moon?

By: Mike Curkov Facebook | X

Posted: Jan 29, 2018 9:04 AM CST

Wednesday, January 31st we'll be treated to a super blood blue moon. What is that?

Glad You Asked.

"It's a super moon because it's a little bigger." said Milwaukee Public Museum Theater & Planetarium director Bob Bonadurer. "Remember the moon's orbit is elliptical. Not a perfect circle. It carries us a little closer."

Bonadurer says the blue moon is the second full moon in the same month. We had a full moon at the beginning of January and now we'll get a second on January 31st. That's where the phrase 'once in a blue moon' comes from. This year we'll have two blue moons. The second is on March 31st, 2018 and the next blue moon won't be until Halloween 2020.

"The blood moon refers to the lunar eclipse that's happening on January 31st in the morning." said Bonadurer. "The moon does turn red or a blood color." That's when the moon enters the earth's umbra.

Times for Wednesday, January 31, 2018 Lunar Eclipse

Partial Begins: 5:48 a.m.
Total Starts: 6:51 a.m.
Ends at Moonset 7:06 a.m.
Sunrise 7:08 p.m.

Read more about the Super Blood Blue Moon from the Milwaukee Public Museum planetarium newsletter here.

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